In London, the capital city of England, there is something for everyone to make their visit a memorable one. London is home to over 300 museums and 200 galleries. There is always some sort of event taking place here.
It’s easy to fly in to London from virtually anywhere, as there are four major international airports here. You can choose between several transportation options after landing in London. The best way to get around London is by using the extensive public transport system. London has hundreds of things to do and a multitude of great places to visit. Below are three of the best things to see and do when visiting London.
Buckingham Palace - Buckingham Palace is one of England’s most famous palaces and is the official home of Queen Elizabeth II. If you are visiting London in summer you can visit the State Rooms as they are open to the public then. Buckingham Palace was acquired by King George III for Queen Charlotte, and has a long and colourful history.
The historic house was converted into a palace by George IV. In 1837, Queen Victoria was the first monarch to reside in Buckingham Palace. During ceremonial occasions, the Royal family still use the State Rooms to receive and entertain guests. Some of the finest English and French furniture in the world can be found in the lavishly decorated rooms. The walls are adorned with paintings by Rubens, Rembrandt, Vermeer and Poussin. Annual exhibitions and regular tours also take place in the 29-acre gardens. You have to have this on your itinerary for a London holiday.
The British Museum - The British Museum is world renowned for its collection of objects exploring the history and culture of man. This impressive museum is home to over seven million objects. Founded in 1753, the displays range from prehistoric to modern. Famous pieces include the Portland Vase, the Parthenon Sculptures and the Rosetta Stone.
It has a world renowned Egyptian collection of mummies and there is a special tomb like room dedicated to the life of the wealthy Egyptian, Negamun. The museum also has areas dedicated to Medieval Europe, Watches and Clocks, and the Percival David Collection of Chinese Art. The central hub of the museum is the glass domed Great Court. It is the largest covered public square in Europe and was designed by Lord Norman Foster. You would not see everything inside if you spent days trying.
The London Eye - The modern icon that is the London Eye - also called the Millennium Wheel - is a must see when visiting London. “Boarding a flight” on the London Eye will give you an entirely different perspective on this amazing city. Standing at an impressive 135 metres tall, this awesome riverside wheel is a famous part of London’s modern skyline. Through the glass pods you get a 360-degree view of the city. It’s possible on a clear day to see twenty-five miles all around.
You will get a bird’s eye view of all of the attractions London has to offer, including Canary Wharf, Big Ben, Windsor Castle and the Houses of Parliament. It takes about thirty minutes for it to make one complete revolution. This is a very popular attraction and you can expect long queues for booking tickets and waiting to board the flight. You can save time by booking online. Depending on your needs, you can find a variety of packages on offer. It’s possible to upgrade to Fast track which lets you check-in 15 minutes prior. If the fancy takes you it’s possible to have a glass of champagne or a personal London guide. This is the best and only way to get a true panoramic view of the city.
There is just so much to do here that you may want to return often. You can easily get around this vast historic city by taxi cab if you have the budget!There are both licensed and unlicensed minicabs operating in London. London - like New York - is famous for its taxis, except for that these ones are black and are called Hackney cabs. You should stick to using these licensed taxis rather than the often less reliable “minicabs”.
You can hire a car at all of London’s airport locations if you prefer this option to getting you around. At both these airports you will find excellent motorist facilities including self-drive car hire or chauffeur driven vehicles for hire.
Any hired car rental agreement should be read thoroughly so that you know what excesses and such you will have to pay in the event of an accident. Other specialist insurance products such as gap insurance, car warranties and breakdown insurance will generally be taken care of by the hire car company so you do not need to worry about these things. Make yourself aware of the details of breakdown cover and who to call if it happens, be sure that you have 24-hour cover in place! Additional insurance products may be offered - such as windscreen insurance or key insurance - to give you added peace of mind but which will undoubtedly cost you more. Ensure that you are aware of what it is you are signing! Sticking with a car hire company you know - such as Hertz, Budget or Avis - may often be your best bet.
You may prefer to use the excellent public transport system instead of hiring a car to get you to your hotel or bed and breakfast (B&B). Rail links from London to other cities and towns around the country are frequent - including to the cosmopolitan seaside resort of Brighton which is also a popular tourist location and holiday resort.
London is a beautiful place to visit no matter the time of year. You will always find something exciting to do whether it is seeing the sights during the day or hitting all of the hot London clubs at night. As the famous Samuel Johnson quotation goes:
“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life”.
This short city review was brought to you by London’s’ Most Popular Online GAP Insurance and Car Warranty Supplier the Click4Group.